David de Gea Quintana (born November 7, 1990) is a professional footballer from Spain who currently plays as a goalkeeper for Manchester United F.C. as well as the Spain national team. Among the best goalkeepers, David de Gea remains one of the best in the world — the talented and assiduous Spaniard has been blessed with a career filled with trophies, individual awards as well as injuries. In this David de Gea biography facts, childhood, career, personal life and net worth, we take a look at the interesting details, in his rise to the centerstage of world football.

Though they necessarily are not in the spotlight in football matches, goalkeepers are an integral part of any football team. As the last line of defence, their agility, swiftness and ability to make calculated decisions in a split second heavily affect a football match. Goalkeepers in modern age football have progressed into a force that is beginning to receive considerable attention. Several goalkeepers have been enlisted in the FIFA Best Player of the Year nomination, and some have gone to make it to the final three. This further cements the claim, that the rise of goalkeepers in modern football is indeed a force that cannot be unnoticed.

David de Gea Childhood/Early Life & Family Background

David De Gea Quintana was born on November 7, 1990, to his parents in Madrid, Spain. De Gea was the only child born to his father, Jose De Gea, who was a goalkeeper. His mother, Marivi Quintana, was a housekeeper.

Due to constant encouragement from his mother, De Gea was successful in his academics and football. In the area of football, De Gea had facilities and equipment at his disposal for him to train, this was because his father was a former football player.

De Gea did not start out as a goalkeeper in his career but as an outfield player. He experimented various positions, midfield, defence and attacking until he settled for goalkeeping when he was just 14 years old. A year before that, De Gea had already started playing for Atletico Madrid.

Being a tall child, De Gea had everything in physical shape to do the goalkeeping job, and with further help from his father, he was all set. Aside from football, he played basketball, but mainly recreationally.

David de Gea Professional Football Career & Accomplishments

Atletico Madrid (2008–2011)

After De Gea signed with Atletico Madrid at the age of 13, his coach as at the time, Juan Martín, lied to the club that fellow Spanish club, Rayo Vallecano, was set to sign De Gea. This was done in a bid to persuade the club to promptly sign the youngster. Days after that, De Gea was signed. He quickly progressed through the youth academy at Atletico and signed his first professional contract with the club when he was 17.

De Gea was subject to interest from various clubs, but he was determined to stay at Atletico. He rejected a loan move to Numancia, which made the club punish him by making him train alone. While training alone, the club’s manager saw young De Gea and thus invited him to train with the first team, as a result, he was chosen as the third-choice goalkeeper for the first team. In the 2009/10 season, at the age of 18, De Gea debuted in the UEFA Champions League and Laliga for Atletico after the first choice goalkeeper suffered injury.

Following the arrival of a new manager at Atletico and some mistakes by the first choice goalkeeper, De Gea finished the season but not without winning two Man of the Match awards. In the 2010/11 season, De Gea helped Atletico win the UEFA Super Cup, saving a penalty in the match. His performance in a Madrid derby that season, earned him praises from then Spanish goalkeeper, Iker Casillas who named him as an heir to him.

Manchester United (2011–date)

Following Spain’s win at the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, De Gea made the move to EPL side Manchester United for £18.9 million. After his first season at Manchester United, De Gea revealed that he was tempted to leave following some disappointments.

Following his arrival from the London 2012 World Cup, De Gea put up an impressive performance which helped Manchester United win the English Premier League title and also earned him a place in the PFA Team of the Year.

He started his 2013/14 campaign with a clean sheet and also earned his 100th cap for United that season. In a match against Olympiacos in the knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League, he made a wonderful save which was lauded by many and was said could not be explained by the rules known to guide physics as well as physiology. As a result, at the end of the season, he was named the Fans’ Player of the Year and club’s Players’ Player of the Year.

In the 2014/15 season, De Gea once again put up an incredible performance which earned him nominations for the PFA Young Player of the Year and PFA Players’ Player of the Year, he was also named to the PFA Team of the Year and received the Player of the Year as well as Fans’ Player of the Year awards.

In September of the 2015/16 season, De Gea signed a four-year contract with United with an option of a year extension. For the 2015/16 and 2016/17 season, De Gea was named to the PFA Team of the Year.

His dream of winning the League’s Golden Glove came to reality in the 2017/18 season, he also had the honour of being in the PFA Team of the Year.

In the 2018/19 season, he became the seventh United goalkeeper to reach 100 clean sheet games. De Gea signed a new contract with United in September 2019, the contract is set to expire in 2023.

David de Gea International Football Career

As a youth, De Gea played for the Spanish U-17 team which won the 2007 European Championship and emerged first runner-up at the 2007 World Cup. He also featured in the Spanish squad which was victorious at the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, the 2012 Olympics and the 2013 U-21 European Championship. He has featured for the Spanish senior team at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup.

David de Gea Net Worth, Salary & Endorsements

De Gea has a net worth of $17 million USD, he receives an annual salary of $21 million. His net worth is boosted by endorsement deals with Adidas, Pepsi Max and EA Sports.

David de Gea Personal Life & Girlfriend

In 2012, De Gea was diagnosed and said to have hyperopia. This condition does not affect his performance though.

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